Exploring Life & Business with Tony McElroy of Tony Mac Entertainment

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony McElroy.

Hi Tony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It was around 2012, while I was attending Golden West, when I was doing a trade with a local Yoga studio in Huntington Beach – I would put up advertising posters around town in exchange for free yoga lessons. One of my yoga instructors was starting his own DJ/MC business at the time, and asked if I would be interested in helping him set up & break down. At this period in time, I had no experience nor knowledge of this line of work, but was open to earning some extra cash on the weekends. I worked under my former yoga instructor until about late 2021. During that time under his wing, I learned a lot about the wedding & private event industry; about DJ/MCing; about DJ & lighting gear & equipment; about production such as draping, dance floors, photo booth, etc. Reflecting back on it all, I have profound appreciation & gratitude for my former boss – particularly, for all the opportunities he provided & chances he took on me. Without him, I wouldn’t be a DJ/MC today. As I was becoming more experienced & confident as a DJ/MC, I wanted to move past being an assistant & roster DJ. In the beginning of 2021, my wife, Jessica, & I started Tony Mac Entertainment. This was a big move because I never owned a business before & would no longer have the mentorship of my boss. With the support of Jessica & our families, Tony Mac Entertainment has grown & is in its 4th year and counting. Recently, I took a step back from being a full-time Special Education Teacher at Westminster High School for 3 years to focus on TME full-time. So now, time will tell and I can at least tell my future self that I’m giving my dream a shot.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anything is smooth when you’re creating your own path. There were definitely struggles and still are many. In the beginning, not knowing any of the business side of things such as DBAs, licenses, taxes, & insurance was a big learning curve for us, which the LBCC Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helped us greatly with. Investing in equipment was difficult, particularly in the beginning. Since we didn’t have a lot of money to start, Jess & I went back & forth over cheap vs more expensive equipment. Having been in the industry for a little while, I knew having professional quality was vital. On the other hand, we didn’t have a lot of money so we couldn’t get the top tier equipment just yet. Determining pricing was & still is a challenge. As a business owner, there is so much behind the scenes & preparation hours that go into preparing for an event and building the business. Moreover, clients have varying budgets – some can’t afford your rate; some pay the rate you ask without question; and some pay more than your asking rate. Lastly, time is a struggle. Until this past school year, I was doing DJ/MC work part-time. Given that, my full-time job took most of my time, energy, and focus – which was great for my progress & performance at work, but not great for taking TME to the next level. Finding the time to work on TME on top of full-time teaching, being a husband, hanging out with family & friends, working out, and playing sports was a struggle. Now that I’m full-time, I have more time to dedicate toward TME but, as some know, there is never enough time in the day to get all that we want to get done.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
TME is a family oriented business that values relationships, transparency, & professionalism. A big reason that I wanted to start my own business is because I wanted to run it the way that I feel is best. After many years of working for companies, districts, & bosses, I learned what I like & what I don’t; how I would do things differently; and how I would go about situations another way. TME allows me to apply the lessons from all my previous work experience and chase my dream.

We specialize in Weddings & Private Events such as Birthday Parties, Quinceañeras, Galas, and more!

What we believe sets us apart from others is that we are easy to work with; we have a beautiful all white set-up for weddings (facade, speakers, lighting); and we collaborate with our clients in creating custom timelines, music playlists, and overall vision for the event 🙂

Honestly, I’m most proud that our brand reflects Jess & me — our partnership, our values, and our vibe. Everything from the way we work events to the way we interact with clients is rooted in connection, inclusivity, and making people feel celebrated. It’s not just a business, it’s an extension of us, and that’s what makes me proud. As we grow together, TME grows with us, which is a great shared achievement for us.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice for anyone starting out is to focus on connection over perfection. Early on, I thought it was all about having perfect events or being the best at mixing, but what really matters is how you make people feel. If you can create a vibe where people are smiling, dancing, & feeling seen, you’re winning!

Additionally, don’t stress about having everything figured out right away. When I started, I thought I needed to have the best equipment & perfect DJ/MC skills — but honestly, you work with what you got & improve as you go. What matters most is showing up, being consistent, & putting good vibes into the room.

Moreover, don’t be afraid to set the tone for the event & be the energy in the room. When I first started, I spent so much time worrying about messing up or how people would judge me. Later, I learned that people will remember how you made them feel & the fun they had. So lean in, have fun, & bring the vibes!

Lastly, don’t be afraid to get help in building your business – there are many free resources out there for small businesses to get their feet off the ground. Find your local small business development center & reach out – there are people there with vast knowledge that are ready to help you out!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tmacevents.com/
• Instagram: @tonymacentertainment
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonymacentertainment
• Other: https://www.twitch.tv/tmacinthemix